By Jon R. Lindsay
Publication Date: 2026-03-11 12:25:00
According to the Washington Post, the US military was able to “strike an incredible 1,000 targets in the first 24 hours of its attack on Iran,” thanks in part to the use of artificial intelligence. The military has used Claude, Anthropic’s AI tool, in combination with Palantir’s Maven system for real-time target acquisition and target prioritization to support combat operations in Iran and Venezuela.
Although Claude is only a few years old, the U.S. military’s ability to use it or any other AI did not emerge overnight. The effective use of automated systems depends on a comprehensive infrastructure and qualified personnel. Only thanks to decades of investment and experience can the United States use AI in war today.
From my experience as an international relations scholar studying strategic technology at Georgia Tech and previously as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy, I have found that digital systems are only as good as the organizations that use them. Some organizations…
